WHAT: The University of Maryland, Baltimore County's business Incubator and Accelerator (part of bwetch@UMBC Research and Technology Park) is home to more than 20 start-up and emerging high-tech and bioscience companies. UMBC's Incubator also operates an Idea Lab to help UMBC students and faculty develop businesses.

UMBC's Incubator has graduated more than 30 companies from the incubator program and has accommodated over 100 tenants since its inception. Two of the most successful are Celsis In Vitro Technologies, winner of a Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) Award as Best Incubator Graduate and Receptor Biology, which was sold to another life science company.

The companies in UMBC's Incubator and Accelerator support over 250 jobs, including more than 50 UMBC students. Most of the companies work closely with UMBC faculty and staff. techcenter@UMBC has successfully helped companies acquire Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) funding.

WHERE: UMBC's Incubator and Accelerator is located adjacent to the UMBC campus and the bwtech@UMBC Research Park in Baltimore County, Maryland. This strategic and convenient location is just off Interstate 95, minutes from downtown Baltimore, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and the Baltimore Beltway.
BACKGROUND: UMBC's technology incubator, founded in 1989, was expanded in 1996 when UMBC purchased the 30-acre five-building Martin Marietta Research Lab facility site and converted it into an incubator and accelerator. The Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) acquired the property and leased it on a long-term basis to UMBC. UMBC received financial support from TEDCO's Incubator Development Fund to expand and renovate its wet lab space.

RESEARCH PARK: bwtech@UMBCResearch Park is a 41-acre research and technology community at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). The Research Park has a total development capacity of 350,000 square feet of office and laboratory space. The park comprises five new state-of-the-art buildings occupied by research and technology firms. The park will house 1,500 jobs when fully built out. The firms have access to university expertise, students, technology, programs and facilities.

WHY: bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park was designed to aid UMBC in enhancing its role as an economic engine for the state and the region by expanding University research opportunities, facilitating technology transfer between the University and the private sector, and creating both jobs and tax revenue.